Electric light



(No Model.)

E. A. EDWARDS.

ELECTRIC LIGHT.

No. 257,678. Patented May 9, 1882.

N. PETERS. Pmm-Lnhogmpm, wnsnmgwn, D. C.

,UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE..

EDGAR A..EDVARDS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ELECTRIC LIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,678, dated May 9,1882. Application tiled September 12, 18.81. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR A. EDWAuDs, a citizenof the United States, anda resident ot' Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Lights,ot' which the following is a specification.

The objectof my invention is to provide im' proved means for regulatingelectric lamps by the counteracting forces ot' two coils ot' difterentresistance, through which the electric currentis made to pass in themanner hereinafter described, so that when, by a too great separationofthe carbons, the current is reduced the electro-magnet ot' greaterresistance is brought into action, so as to bring the carbons togetheragain.

The various features of my invention will be more fully setforth in thedescription otl the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a front elevation ot' an electric lamp embodying my iuvention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ot the electromagnets and devices forautomatically adjusting the regulating-rod or upper-carbon holder, thesaid rod being shown broken oiattop and bottom. Fin'. 3 is a sectionalplan on the line au Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a broken sectional elevation,showing a moditied form of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectionot' Fig. 2 and the case in which it is inclosed. Fig. Gis a rearelevation of a broken upper section ot' my invention, showing the switchfor bringing the lamp and ils magnet in and out ot' circuit, `the upperrighthand bindingpost being shown in section. Fig. 7 is a modified formot' clutch-brake.

The lamp here shown is designed to he one of a series placed in acircuit, its construction being such that the operation, adjustment, andshutting out ot one lamp will not interfere with the remaining lamp incircuit.

A represents a Inetallic case, within which the magnets and regulatingdevices are placed, anditis made of softiron. acrepresentcross armsattached to the sides of case A.

B B representvertical rods attached to crossarms c c.

Bll represents a cross-arm attached to rods B B', `forming the base ofthe lamp.

b represents the 1ower-carbon holder.

b represents a set-screw for vertically adjusting the carbon-holder b.

Rod B isinsulaed from metallic connection with the arms a. and B bymeans of guttapercha or other suitable insulations. Rod B is in metalliccontact with arms B, and forms a partof the circuit when the lamp is in.operation. Bod B is insulated from metallic con neetion with arm c bymeans of gutta-percha washers and bushing; butit has a metallicconnection with the binding-post N by means of a screw-rod, D, as shownin Fig. (i, c c representing the insulating washers or bushing.

E E refer to an ordinary U-shaped electro magnet, which is composed ot'two helical coils of coarse wire wound upon spools that are secured toand in metallic connection with the soft-iron case A, the wire composingthe said coils extending from one to the other, as shown in Fig. 2. Oneend of the said magnet-wires is connected to switch F and the other endto case A. G G and G G represent axial armatures.

H H refer to an ordinary U-shaped electromagnet, the two coils ot' whichare composed ot' wire that is iiner than the wire ot' the upperU-magnct, E F. The spools ofthe U-magnet H H are secured to the sottiron casing A, so that in effect these magnets constitute a doubleU-magnet comprising coils of ditl'erent resistance, thoseot'the tinewire beingof greater resistance than those ot' coarser wire. The magnetH El is designed to hare a resistance in al circuit equal to that ot'the dynamic machine and the main circuit of all the lamps, including thecoils otl the electro-magnet E.

h represents dash-pots, in which the lower'` ends ot' armatures G areplaced. dash-pot may be used.

c It' represent the positive ends ot' wires of the magnets E H. They areelectrically connected and united by means ot' a metallic connection, p,to the positive binding-post I. The opposite end of'the tine magnet-wireh is electrically connected to binding-post N, so that when switch F isin the vertical position the magnet E is in circuit; but when switch Fis turned and brought in contact with 'i the lamp is short-circuited bycutting the carbons out. Armatures G G form the axial cores for magnet EE, and G G are the axial cores for magnet H H.

'Y represents a yoke which unites thetwo armatures G G and G' G. Throughthe cen Any form ot' IOC ter ot' yoke Y is a slot or mortise, throughwhich loosely passes the upper-earbon-rod holder L. This rod maybe otlan H shape, as shown in Fig. 4, or of a hollow square form, as shown inFigs. 2, 3, and 5, or ot' any other form adapted to an insidetwo-pointed clutch.

Z represents pivoted levers, the free ends of which rest in stirrups l,the other ends working on pivot If, attached to onel of the spools ot'the electro-magnet H.

M represents a yoke-lever surroinnling the rod L, and provided withcross-head m, resting on the levers l', the opposite end being supportedupon the opposite spool ot" the magnet H.

0 indicates the friction-clutch brake, which will be madeot' a thinplate, having knifeedge points adapted to engage the inner walls ot' thehollow upper-carbon holder, as hereinafter set forth. .It is placed inthe channel ot' the hollow rod L and rigidly attached to yokelever lll.As the armature-yoke Y raises `stirrups the pivoted levers l will alsorise, which in turn raise one'end of thelever M, and thereby press thesharp edges ot' clutch 0 against the side ot the rod L, thus raising`rod L corresponding to the movements ot' yoke Y, and a corresponding`descending movement of the yoke Y tends to release the ends of clutch O,which allows the descent of rod L, the points ot' the clutch acting as abrake and checking the rapid motion ot' rod L.

T iepresents a retractible armature-spring, one end of which is attachedto the armatureyoke Y and the other end to case A.

There are two circuits in my lamp, one of which is the lamp-circuit,which conveys the current to support combustion and form the light,andis as follows: P represents the positive binding-post;p, a metallicwire connection connecting it with the wires e h', which form branchesof a divided circuit. The coarse-wire magnetisin thelamp-circuit, andthrough this magnet the electricity passes to case A, thence throughwire Q, through the carbon-holder L, thence through the carbons S S, thecarbonholderb,through arms B", rod B, and by means ot'screwuod D to thenegative post N, thence to other lamps in the circuit. The externalcurrent, which, in combination with the primary eurrentand magnets,automatically adjusts the one carbon to and from the other and maintainsthe arc ot' uniform size, is as follows: The positive current isconveyed by wire h', through magnet H H, and by metallic connectionofwire lo', thence through wire u, to binding-post N, Where it againunites with the lamp current or circuit.

j represents an adjustable stop. It is pret'- erably made of U shape andot' soft brass, so as to be bent up or down; but a screw-stop may beused instead. This stop is ladjusted so as to prevent the upper carbonfrom rising high enough to break the are.

The following is the'mode of operation ot' my lamp and automaticcarbon-adjusting devices. The lamp is adjusted ready for operation.lhctwocarbonsarein contact, the upper one resting freely upon the lowerone, and the circuit established by means of switch F. The electricitypasses through the lamp in two circuits, as above described, the maximumforce being exerted in the lamp-circuit, a minimum amount through thelesser circuit in proportion to the resistances between the entirelampcircuits and the resistance in electro-magnet H H, which, being ot'fine-wire coils, has a greater resistance than the electro-magnet otcoarse wire. By reason of the greater amount of magnetism developed inthe magnetEE,the axial armatures G G are attracted upward imo thecavities ofthe spools of magnet E E, carrying upward theyoke-armature Y,with depending stirrup Zand lower axial cores, G' G', thereby elevatingthe ends ot' levers l l and carryingupward the cross-heads moi' theyokelever l\[ and throwing brake-clutch O into contact with rod L, whichrod it clutches by angular mpingeznent and carries upward until the endsot' lever M come in Contact with adjustable stopj, thereby separatingthe upper and lower carbons and producing the voltaic are between thecarbons. Vhen the carbon wastes away by the action ot' the current theresistance ot' the lamp-circuit is increased, magnetism in theelectro-magnet E E is decreased, and more current passes through theelectromagnet H H, increasing` its magnetism and drawingdownward cores GG', withyokelever connections, and clutch O, thus carrying down rod L,and thereby adjusting the carbons and decreasing the resistance of theprincipal circuit, and also shortening the arc and increasing magnetismin the magnet E E when the downward movement ot' the carbon-holder isarrested. This movement is continued until the end ot' lever M touchesthe top ot' one of the spools of the electro-magnet H, when the angularimpingementotclutch is decreased, allowing rod L to be again raised.

ln practice the action ot the two magnets oi different resistaucesoperating upon the adjusting mechanism is so sensitive and instantaneousin its action that practically the carbons are balanced by the twoforces, so as to maintain almost a uniform arc without any perceptibleflicker, giving a clear, bright, and desirable light.

When the form ot' carbon rod L shown in Fig. 4 is employed two clutchesO may be employed, one clutch working in each ot' the respectivechannels, being rigidly connected to yoke-lever, as above described.

It is obvious that the adjusting mechanism and the arrangement ot' theelectro-magnets ot' different resistances may be applied by reversingtheir position so as to adjust the lower instead ofthe upper carbonholder; or both upper and lower adjustments may be employed in one andthe same lamp.

It is also obvious that, instead of yoke Y being made ot' a single pieceof soft iron, two yokes or unitingarms may be employed, provided one orboth be connected to the clutclry TOO IIO

ing mechanism. Such a change would be a mere modification ot' the firstfeature of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, in an electric lamp, of thechanneled carbon-holder with the knifeedged friction-clutch arranged towork in the channel of the carbon-holder and connected to a vibratoryyoke, -the yoke rigidly connecting the axial cores ofthe magnets, andadapted to raise said vibratory yoke, whereby the raising of such yokewill cause the friction-clutch to act as a brake for retarding thedescent ofthe carbon-holder, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the double U- shaped electro-magnet composingmagnets of dierent resistances, of the double-ed ged friction knifeclutch and brake adapted to impnge simultaneously against the oppositesides ot' the channel-shaped carbon-holder, and mechanism for operatingsaid clutch, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the channel-shaped carbon-holder and thefriction-clutch brake, the link-levers l M and the armature-yoke Y,connected with the stirrup l, whereby the carbon-holder will rise andfall and adjust the are ot' the light, substantially as described.

4. The soft-iron case A, inclosing the two U-shaped electro-magnets ot'different resistance magnetically connected to theinterior of the case,in combination with a carbon-holder passingvertically up through thecase, and the automatically-operatingdevices for connecting thearmature-yoke with the carbon holder, substantially as herein set forth.

5. An electric lamp comprising the soft-iron case A and the two U-shapedelectro-magnets of different resistances magnetically connected to andlocated within the interior of the case, said magnets having rising andfalling axial cores united by a com mon armature-yoke, with auautomatically-adjusting clutch mechanism adapted to raise and lower ametallic carbonholder passing loosely up through the ease, substantiallyas herein set forth.

6. In an electric lamp, the double U-magnet comprising coils ofdift'erent resistance, with rising and falling axial cores united by acommon armature-yoke, the rise and fall of which armature-yoke and coresoperate the adjusting clutch mechanism for adjusting the arc of thelight, the electromagnets being magnetically connected tothe metallicshell of the case, which acts as a metallic conductor and forms apartot` the lamp-circuit through the carbonholder and carbous, an externalcircuit being employed for regulating the magnetic forces actuating thecommon yoke of the two magnets, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EDGAR A. EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

EUGENE L. FIRNKOESS, J. H. CHARLES SMITH.

